BUDGET 2019 | The setting up of an additional 50 childcare facilities in government buildings is capable of increasing the number of women workforce, as well as their productivity, in the employment market by up to 30 percent, said Congress of Unions of Employees in Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Azih Muda (above).

He described the move as timely and in tandem with efforts by the government in providing facilities for working mothers who worried about leaving their children with babysitters for fear of their safety.

"The RM10 million allocation for the additional 50 childcare centres that was announced in the 2019 Budget is the best effort to help working mothers to be closer to, as well as monitor, their children.

"This is important because we do not want the performance of women to be affected because of their concern for their children’s safety,” he said when contacted by Bernama.

He said this in response to the Budget 2019 tabled by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, which provided, among others, an allocation of RM10 million for the setting up of an additional 50 childcare centres to ease the burden of working mothers, while continuing to encourage and provide incentives to the private sector for the same purpose.

The current rate of women’s participation in the workforce is only 53.5 percent in 2017, where 60 percent of women who are not in the employment market said they choose not to work due to the workload at home.

Meanwhile, National Council of Women’s Organisation (NCWO) president Prof Emeritus Dr Sharifah Habsah Syed Hasan Shahabudin also lauded the move, saying it was the best assistance for women employees in the public sector.

"Apart from childcare centres, the government should also look at the minimum wage which is now stalling operations of private childcare centres, especially for the low-income earners.

"Incentives should also be given to new and innovative efforts, such as 'childminder on demand' that use new business model with sophisticated technology,” she added.

Women Association for Development and Innovation (Wadi) president Sukmamurni Abdul Manaf also lauded the move, which, she said, would comprehensively increase women’s participation in the employment market.

"However, we hope, it is not just having more childcare centres, as it should be in line with providing the best service, and at reasonable fee rate,” she added. 

- Bernama